"You're not going anywhere, you hear me?" Rachel's voice crackled over the phone line. Her words hung in the air, echoing the weight of her grip on the receiver.
"I just need some space," came the muffled response. It was barely audible, but Rachel heard it, clear as day. She knew that tone. It was the one her younger brother, Alex, used when he was hiding something.
Rachel glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. It was a quarter to eight, and the day had been one never-ending battle of wills. She'd had enough. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you, but you're coming to stay with me for a while."
Alex sighed heavily. Rachel could picture him slumped on the edge of his bed, his eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot. "I'm not a kid anymore, Rach," he said, the words dragging like lead. "I can handle it."
Rachel felt the familiar tightness in her chest. She'd always been the strong one, the one who took care of everyone else. But Alex? He was her baby brother. He was supposed to be invincible.
The kitchen was spotless, the smell of lemon cleaner still lingering in the air. Rachel had been trying to distract herself from her worry by scrubbing down every surface. But it was no use; the gleaming tiles and chrome only reflected her fears back at her.
She took a deep breath and leaned against the cool counter. "Just come over, okay?" she said softly. "We'll talk it out."
There was a pause, so long she thought the line had gone dead. Then, "Okay." It was almost imperceptible, but Rachel heard the defeat in his voice. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
Alex arrived an hour later, his shoulders hunched and his eyes cast down. Rachel didn't know what was going on with him, but she knew it was bad. As she pulled him into a tight hug, she felt his body tense. "It's going to be okay," she murmured. "I'm here for you."
The apartment was quiet except for the hum of the fridge and the distant wail of a siren. Rachel made them both tea, the warmth of the mug feeling like a lifeline in her trembling hand. They sat at the small table, the silence thick and oppressive. Rachel's heart hammered in her chest as she waited for him to speak.
Finally, Alex looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. "It's just... it's all too much, Rach." He took a shaky breath. "I don't think I can do this anymore."
The words hung in the air, a dark cloud threatening to suffocate them both. Rachel's heart skipped a beat as she realized the gravity of the situation. She reached out, her hand shaking slightly as it hovered over his. "Do what, Alex?"
He stared into his tea, the steam swirling around his face. "Everything," he whispered. "I don't know how to keep going."
The weight of his confession settled heavily on Rachel's shoulders. She had no idea what kind of storm was raging inside him, but she knew she had to be the one to help him weather it.